Tobacco stemming machine



April 5, 1932- J. J. CAUDLE TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY April 2- .1. J. CAUDLE 1,852,148

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 5, 1932. J. J. CAU'DLE TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 l VENTOR A O EY J. J. CAUDLE April 5, 1932.

TOBACCO STEMMING MACHINE Filed Nov'. 22, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 5, 1932 JOSEPH JEROME CA'UDLE, RICHMOND; VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A CORPORATION OF GREAT BRITAIN TOBACCO swarm/tine MACHINE.

Application filed November 22, 1928 Serial No. 321,059.

This invention relates to a stemming-niachine for the purpose of separating the stem of a leaf from the web or body, portion by drawing the stem outward from the web. It

pertains more particularly to thestemming of tobacco leaves, and machines of this character have a wide use inthe tobacco industry, because the stems of the leaf, being made of a woody fibre, are objectionable in smoking 1 or chewing tobaccos.

An object of this invention is the provision of a machine which will automatically remove the stem of a tobacco leaf from the web thereof without breaking off the stem and thus leaving part of it in the web or laminm of the leaf. y

Another object is to provide a machine which will automatically feed the leaves to the stemming means and perform a continuous operation of stemming successive leaves.

Another object is to provide for the stemming of leaves of various lengths. and thicknesses without readjustment of the mechanisni or replacement of parts thereof.

Another object is to provide for the gripping of the leaf in suitable stripping mem bers and removal therefrom without breaking or tearing thebody of the leaf and thus producing an excessive amount of scrap or waste material..

A further object is to provide for a stemming means which will synchronize and cooperate with the stripping members so that separation of the stem from the web portion of the leaf is accomplished by a smooth, steady pull in such a direction at all points in the path of travel of the leaf that substantially no twisting or tearing of the leaf is produced while it is so operated upon.

And still another object is to provide for the separation of the stemmed and the unstemmed leaves near the discharge end of the machine and thereturn of the latter to the inlet end thereof.

This machine embraces, in its generic features, a cardclotlncovered drum above which is arranged to cooperate therewith an endless lineally moving ca-rdcloth cleaning belt.

A feeding device is adapted to feed tobacco leaves between said drum and said belt in such manner that part of the body of the leaf will be gripped therebetween while the butt end of the stem will project slightly beyond the drum and belt. The leaves are carried forward by the rotation ofthe drum,

and when in proper position, the'stem but-ts are gripped between a revolving stemming drum and cooperating endless lineally moving belt adapted to travel in 'a groove in the periphery of the drum. This stemming drum is angularly disposed and tangentially arranged in regard to the feeding or stripping drum so that as the leaves move around the latterthe stem butts will be engaged between the stemming drum and its cooperating belt and will move around it in a constantly increasing divergent path fromthe web which." is carried by the stripping drum, so that the stems are'drawn from the web or body portion of the leaf. The stemmed tobacco is, carried around toa discharge belt which. disengages it and discharges 'it into any suitable receptacle. or conveyer.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification'wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout'the several views, I have illustrated a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. l is a perspective view taken from the front or inlet end of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear or discharge end of the machine,

Fig.3 is a side elevation looking from the right in Fig. 1; V i V Fig. 4: is a sectional plan view taken on the line ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional end view taken on line 55 of Fig. 8.

The framework F may be constructed of any material withv sutfici ent strength .and

rigidity'to support the various movable ele ments in proper relation to each other, and comprises various vertical and horizontal members adapted tosupport the rotating shafts, pulleys, and drums which are part i of this mechanism.

A stripping or feeding drum 1 is attached to a shaft 2 which is journalled in bearing 3 supported by cross piece 4 of frame F. Any

suitable means (not shown) of rotating shaft 2, such as a tight and loose pulley or a direct connected electric motor, may be attached thereto. A stemming drum 5 is attached to a shaft 6 similarly journalled in a bearing 7 supported on a cross member 8 of frame F. Shafts2 and 6 are in the same plane but angularly disposed to each other and can be connected by a flexible coupling 9, as shown in Figsl2and 4. i j

-The feeding means comprises an endless feed belt 10 adapted to run over drum 1 and pulleys 11, 17 and 18, as sho-wn'in Fig. 3.

Pulley 11 is attached to shaft 12 which is supported in bearings 13 and 14 mounted, as

shown in Fig. 2, on vertical frame members 15 and 16respectively. Pulley 18 is attached to shaft 19, whichis supported in bearings (one of which-is shown at 20 in Fig. 1), mounted on frame F. V i

'A gage board 101 is positioned'adjacent to belt 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and enables the operator to position the leaves upon the feed belt so that the proper length of the stem butt will project from between the cooperating-stripping members and thus assure engagement with the stemming means.

A narrow strip of'cardclo'th 22 is attached to the periphery of drum 1 near one end thereof, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. 7

An endless cardcloth-covered cleaning belt 23 is adapted to cooperate with cardcloth 22 for'part of the periphery of drum 1, as shown in Fig. 3. Belt 23 is mounted on pulleys 18, 24, and .27. Pulleys 24 and 25are'mounted on stub shafts 21.and 26'respectively, which aresupported by and project from frame I, as shown in Fig. 1. Pulley 27 is secured to shaft 28, which is supported in bearings 29 and 29 mounted on frame members 16 and 15 respectively. 1 The clean ing belt operates in synchronism with drum 1 because it 1s mounted on pulley 18 which 1s dI'lVGIl by belt 10 and because it engages the cardcloth 22 on drum 1 for nearly onehalf the circumference thereof. r

A discharge belt 30 runs over pulleys '31 and 32,'as shown-in Fig. 3. The'sepulleys are so arranged that belt 30 lies in the same plane as belt 10 and cooperates with it for part ofthe circumference of drum 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Pulley 31 is secured to shaft 33 journalledin bearings 34 and 35 which are mounted in frame members 36 and 16 respectlvely, as shown in Fig.2. Pulley 32 is secured to shaft 37 which is journalled in bearings 38 and139 mounted in frame memhere 15 and 16 respectively,as shown in 2. As the stemmed leaves are discharged from the machine they fall into a receptacle or conveyer shown at 47 A return belt 40 runs over pulleysll, 32, 41 and 42, as shown in Fig. 3. Pulley 41 is mounted on shaft 42 which is journalled in bearings 43 and 44'mounted on frame memhere 15 and 16 respectively. Belt 40 is a relatively narrow belt and cooperates with belt 10 near one edge thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to return unstemmed leaves to the inlet end of the machine where they may be discharged into a container or conveyer represented at 45.

The stemming means comprises drum 5 and an endless-lineally moving stemming or gripping belt adapted to cooperate with drum 5 and run in groove 51 cut in the periphery thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Stemming belt/50 runs over sheaves 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56. Sheave 52 runs on a pintle shaft 56 supported in bearing 57 mounted on horizontal frame member 58. Sheave 53 is adapted to rotate on a shaft 59supported on a bracket 60 which is swingable about pintle shaft 56 as a pivot and is mounted thereon. An arm 61 is rigidly attached to bracket 60 and is adapted to support a tensioning weight 62 at various distances from pivot 56. sheave 53 rests upon belt 50 as it runs from sheave 52 to sheave 54 and puts a tension on 'said belt dueto its own weight and the weight 62. This tension may be varied by moving weight 62 nearer to or farther from pivot 56. Sheave 54is supported on a stub shaft 64 mountedjon frame member 58, as shown in Fig. 2. Sheave 55 is similarly mounted on stub shaft 65 secured to vertical frame member 66. Sheave 56'is mounted. on stub shaft 68 which issupported on the vertical frame member 67, as shown in Fig. 1.

A cleaning wheel 7 O equipped with bristles upon the periphery thereof is mounted upon shaft 37 and adapted to rotate with pulley 32 and is positioned so that the bristles thereupon engage cardcloth-covered cleaning belt 23 as it passes under pulley 27 and will serve to disengage therefrom any particles of tobacco carried by this belt. This action is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. A similar cardcloth 22, which is mounted on drum 1, so'

as to remove therefrom any particles of tobacco which might cling to the bristles of the cardcloth.

The operationof thismachineis asfollows: The operator places the leaves to be stemmed upon'feed belt 10 in spaced relation to each other with the butt end of the stems against gage board 101, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The leaves travel under pulley 18 and between cardcloth 22 and cleaning belt 23 so that the butt-end of the stems project out from. the edge of drum 1 a sufficient distance to pass between and to be gripped by stemming drum 5 and stemming or gripping belt 50 cooperating therewith. Belt 50 will serve Due to the angularity of the plane of rotation of drum with respect to the plane of rotation of drum 1, the butt end of the stems will travel in a constantly divergent path from the web portion of the leaves as the leaves travel with the rotating drum 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the stems will be gradually drawn from the web portion of the leaves. As the leaves and stems near the rear end of the machines the stems will become entirely disengaged, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4: and they will fall from drum 5 as they pass under sheave 55 and are released from the gripping action of belt 50.

As shown in Fig. 1, during the stemming operation, the web or laminae of the leaf is pulled toward and crumpled against the cooperating stripping elements 22 and 23. As they near the rear end of the machine they pass under discharge belt 30, as shown in Fig. 3, and are discharged from the feed belt into a suitable receptacle or conveyer 47.

If a leaf is not stemmed it will remain outstretched on belt 10 as it originally was placed thereon by the operator near the inlet end of the machine, and will not be pulled into contact with and crumpled against the stripping members. Such a leaf will be engaged by return belt 40, as shown in Fig. 2, and will be gripped between belt and belt 10 and returned to the inlet end of the machine, where it may be discharged into asuitable receptacle or conveyer 45, as shown in Fig. 3.

Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of various changes, and I reserve the right to make and use such of these as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means comprising a revolvable stripping drum and a cleaning belt cooperating therewith to hold the web or laminae of the leaves therebetween, and stemming means comprising a revolvable stemming drum and a gripping belt cooperating with said stemming drum to grip the stem butts of the leaves.

2. In a tobacco stemming machine, a revolvable stripping drum, a cleaning belt adapted to cooperate therewith for carrying the tobacco forward and for stripping the same, stemming means comprising a revolvable member and a movable member adapted to c0- i operate therewith to grip the butt-end of the stems therebetween and to travel in a path angnlarly disposed with respect to but in the same general direction as the path of travel of the body portion of the leaf gripped between said stripping drum and said cleaning drums lying in the s'ameplane but angularlydisposed in regard to each other, and a gripping belt cooperating with said stemming stems thereleaves tosaid drum, stemming means compris-' ing a revolvabledrum and a grlpplng belt cooperating therewith to'hold the stem of a leaf therebetween, and means for separating the stemmed from the unstemmed leaves for returning the latter from the discharge end of the machine to the inlet end.

6'. In a stemming machine, a revolvable stripping drum, a feed belt passing around at least part of the periphery thereof, a cleaning belt cooperating with said drum to'act as stripping means for leaves traveling-along said feed belt, a stemming drum positioned so that one point on the edge of the periphery,

thereof is adjacent to oneedge of the periphery of said stripping drum, and a gripping belt cooperating with said stemming drum to hold the stems of leaves therebetween.

7 In a stemming machine, a revolvable stripping drum, a feed belt, a cleaning belt cooperating with said drum, a stemming drum;

the planeof rotation of which is angularly disposed to the plane of rotation ofsaid feed drum, and a gripping belt cooperating with said stemming drum to hold the stems of leaves therebetween. I

8. In a stemming machine, a revolvable stripping drum, a cleaning belt cooperating therewith to act as tripping means, means for feeding leaves to said drum and removing them therefrom, and a stemming drum and cooperating gripping beltadapted to grip the stems of leaves which are passing over said stripping drum and draw the stems from the web portion thereof.

9. In a tobacco stemming machine, strip ping means comprising a cardcloth covered revolvable drum and coo perating'belt adapted to hold the body port-ion of a leaf therebetween, means for feeding leaves to said stripping means, means for discharging stemmed leaves from said stripping means, and stemming means comprising a revolvable member rotatable in the same general direction as said drum and a lineally movable member adapted to grasp the butt-end of the stems therebetween and disengage the stems from the web portions of the leaves While said Web portions are held by said stripping means.

10. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means comprising a carclcloth covered revolvable drum and cooperating belt adapt ed to hold the body portion of a leaf therebetween, means for feeding leaves to said stripping means, and stemming means comprising 7. a grooved stemming drum, and a gripping belt adapted to run in the'groove in said stemming drum.

11. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means comprising a revolvable feed I m drum and cooperating means adaptedto hold 1'5thebody portion of a leaf therebetvveen, means for feeding leaves to said stripping means, means for discharging leaves from said stripping means, and stemming means comprising a stemming drum the axis of Which is angularly disposed to but in the same plane" as the axis of said feed drum'and a r V gripping belt cooperating with said stemming drum to draw the stemsof the leaves from the Web portion thereof. a 12. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means comprising cooperating a cardcloth covered revolvable drum and cooperating' belt adapted to hold the Web or laminae of a leaf therebetvveen, and stemming means comprising a revolvable drum rotatable in the same'general direction as said drum and a cooperating lineally moving element arranged relative to said'drum so that the butt'end of I the stem of a leaf may be held therebetvveen, said stemming means angularly' and tangen'-' tially disposed With respect to'said stripping means so that a stem the butt of Which is held in saidlstemming means, Will be gradually separated from the Web of its leaf during the 40' operation'of the machine.

13] In a stemming machine, stripping means comprising a revolvable drum and a cooperating belt, stemming means compris- H ing a revolvable drum and a cooperating belt and arranged in angularand tangential relationship to said stripping means, means for feeding leaves to said stripping means, means for discharging stemmed leaves from the machine, and means I for returning the unso stemmed leaves from the discharge to the inlet'end of the machine. I

' Signed at Richmond, in the county of Henrico, and State of Virginia this 26th day of October, A. D. 1928. p i JOSEPH JEROME CAUDLE. 

